The Philippine National Police (PNP) has bared that most of the private armed groups in the country are in the Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (ARMM).
PNP Deputy Director General Avelino Razon Jr. said each group has a minimum membership of three persons, “although there are some with as many as 10 or more members.”
Fifty-six private armed groups are in the ARMM, nine in Western Mindanao, three in Central Luzon and two are in Cagayan Valley, he added.
Razon said the 56 private armed groups monitored in the ARMM were scattered in different areas; with 25 groups reportedly based in Sulu, 21 in Maguindanao, seven in Lanao, three in Tawi-Tawi and Basilan.
"These private armed groups were believed to be in possession of loose firearms," he said. "We hope to neutralize these private armed groups and seize all the loose firearms."
Private armed groups of politicians are well-armed and powerful, especially during election period.
In 2001 a tabulation prepared by the Armed Forces showed that private armed groups were responsible for 80-82 percent of the violent election cases. They were also blamed for 65 percent of the killings and 85 percent of the non-fatal incidents. (HG)
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